Review: Born Wicked

I’m worried that if I keep telling you how much I liked the books I have been reading, you won’t believe me anymore. So, I need to remind you that when I don’t like books, I say so. Really. I do. Now that we have that cleared up, I can tell you about the latest selection that I read through the BlogHer Book Club: Born Wicked.

Born Wicked is a novel about the Cahill girls, three sisters who are all witches. Their mother died when they were younger, leaving them to learn magic from each other, while protecting their secret. And their father? He doesn’t know. Cate, the oldest, promised her mother that she would look after her sisters and protect them. That’s no small feat either, since witches are persecuted — sent to asylums, locked up or put to hard labor. But with her birthday approaching, she’s reached the time when she must announce whether she’ll marry or join the sisterhood (a convent of sorts). It’s a huge decision made more complicated by her strong urge to protect her family.

I. Loved. This. Book.

Author Jessica Spotswood has woven together an amazing tale of politics, friendship, family and betrayal. I was riveted from the first chapter and found myself sneaking away to read just a bit more. I was drawn to the sisters, wanting to help Cate protect them. And the passages about the magic left me feeling like I was right there, watching spring wash over the fall landscape.

This is like the girl-centric version of Harry Potter, with a lot of appeal for adults (but then again, HP had that too). Except in this witching world, being empowered is downright dangerous. Even more so when Cate discovers a prophecy about three witch sisters that could change their lives forever …

The only downside to Born Wicked? We have to wait until 2013 for the next installment. Sigh …

Join the discussion about Born Wicked at the BlogHer Book Club.

Disclosure: I was provided with a copy of this book and compensated for this review. But all opinions are still mine.

Sarah Walker Caron

Sarah Walker Caron is a cookbook author, freelance writer and founder of Sarah’s Cucina Bella. She is the author of several cookbooks including The Super Easy 5-Ingredient Cookbook and One-Pot Pasta, both from Rockridge Press. A single mother to two kids in middle school, Sarah loves nightly family dinners, juicy tomatoes plucked fresh from the vine and lazy days on the beach. She also adores reading and traveling.